Family of Man Killed in Yorkshire Wildlife Park Tiger Attack Speaks Out as Investigators Probe Death

The family of a 23-year-old man who died after entering a tiger enclosure at a wildlife park in South Yorkshire has spoken publicly for the first time, describing him as a beloved son whose struggles with mental illness were well known to those closest to him.

William Chapman was attacked on Saturday afternoon after he went into the pen at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster. Emergency services were called shortly after 1:30pm, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The park was evacuated immediately and has remained shut since, with no timeline yet given for when it might reopen.

In a statement issued through police on Tuesday evening, Chapman's relatives said he had suffered from significant mental illness for a number of years and had been prescribed strong medication. The family noted that it would ultimately fall to a coroner to determine what role his condition may have played in his death, and they asked the public to allow that legal process to run its course without interference.

The tribute painted a picture of a young man remembered for his character rather than the circumstances of his death. "William was a bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved — and William loved them back," the statement said. Relatives added that they were utterly devastated and struggling to comprehend what had happened, and that they hoped authorities would do everything possible to establish why their son acted as he did.

The family also made an emotional appeal for privacy, saying the circulation of what they described as deeply offensive media content was compounding their grief at an exceptionally vulnerable time. Their intervention came as footage purporting to show the incident spread rapidly across social media platforms, drawing condemnation from local leaders and even reaching the highest levels of political discussion.

Downing Street weighed in on the matter after US President Donald Trump shared a clip of the incident on his social media channels on Tuesday evening. A spokesman for the prime minister said the family's position on the footage was clear and should be respected, though he declined to comment directly on the president's decision to post it, noting that the White House has its own press secretary to address such questions. The exchange highlighted the difficult intersection between viral content, public interest and a grieving family's right to be left alone.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said his office had been in contact with Chapman's relatives, who told him they were sharing the pain and suffering caused by knowing that videos and pictures of his death were being shared online. Coppard urged people to refrain from speculating about the incident, warning that such commentary only deepens the hurt being endured by the family. "Answers will come in time," he said, signalling that official investigations should be allowed to establish the facts.

Those investigations are already under way. City of Doncaster Council has launched a health and safety inquiry into the death, and an inquest is due to open at Doncaster Coroner's Court on Thursday. Dan Swaine, the council's executive director of place, said the local authority was deeply saddened by the incident and extended its deepest sympathies to Chapman's family and to everyone who witnessed the scene.

Police have confirmed that Chapman's family is being supported by specialist officers. An eyewitness described seeing the 23-year-old wearing headphones and pacing around near the enclosure before he entered it. Mobile phone footage believed to have been recorded by Chapman appears to show the inside of the enclosure as he walks across grass toward the tiger. The animal, a rare Amur tiger named Altai, remained in its enclosure after the attack, and park staff confirmed it would not be euthanised.

Tributes have also come from further afield. Chapman was a former pupil of the Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, which said it had loved watching him grow both as a person and as a performer. The school described his time there as a privilege and said he would be remembered with great fondness by everyone who knew him. As a child, Chapman appeared in the ITV production "May Contain Nuts" alongside Shirley Henderson, best known for playing Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films, and Darren Boyd, and he also portrayed Edward Jenner in the BBC series "True Stories."

Floral tributes have been laid at the entrance to the wildlife park near Doncaster, where visitors and well-wishers have left flowers in memory of the young man. Staff at the attraction said their thoughts and heartfelt sympathies were with Chapman's family, while the park's continued closure reflects the gravity of an event that has shaken both the local community and the wider public.

The case raises broader questions about how quickly graphic material spreads online in the aftermath of a tragedy and whether existing safeguards are adequate to protect bereaved families. It also places scrutiny on safety protocols at wildlife parks, particularly regarding barriers and supervision around enclosures housing dangerous animals. Those questions will likely form part of the health and safety investigation and the forthcoming inquest, both of which are expected to examine the sequence of events in detail.

For now, Chapman's loved ones have asked only for space to grieve and for the public to refrain from sharing or amplifying content that adds to their distress. Their statement made clear that they want the truth established through official channels rather than through speculation, and they expressed hope that the relevant authorities would exhaust every avenue to explain why their son did what he did on that Saturday afternoon.